Choline: Managing Liver Fat The good news is that fat accumulation in the liver can be controlled with the right choices. The most important thing a person can do is talk with his or her doctor about achieving a balanced, healthy diet and getting regular exercise. Adequate choline intake is a fundamental and irreplaceable part of good nutrition, as its functionality is unique. Choline works behind the scenes to maintain normal liver function through the role it plays in fat metabolism. The liver produces very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) as a way to export fats out of the liver for storage or to muscles for immediate conversion into energy. VLDLs are composed of an inner core of lipids and an outer layer of phospholipids. As a precursor of the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC), free choline is a required raw material to make VLDL. Without adequate levels of free choline, transport slows and fats will begin to build up within the liver. VitaCholine ® Balchem’s VitaCholine is the premier brand of choline, an essential nutrient for all human life stages. Choline is critical to the healthy structure and function of the human body and plays multiple roles: • Building Block – it is an integral part of cell development, maintenance and genetic regulation • Messenger – as acetylcholine, it speeds messages in the brain and to the muscles • Metabolic Defender – it helps prevent fat accumulation in the liver by moving it out for conversion into energy Adequate choline intake is fundamental to good health, but 90% of people do not get sufficient choline through diet alone. Prolonged choline deficiency can result in muscle damage and an accumulation of fat in the liver 1 , making it vital for people to get their daily requirements via dietary choices. Choline: Focus on Liver Health According to a 2015 fact sheet from the World Health Organization, the worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. In 2014, about 39% of the world’s population aged 18 years and over were overweight and 13% were obese 2 . The negative impact of obesity on cardiovascular health is well- established, but far fewer are aware of the effect it has on the liver. Various sources estimate that the incidence of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from 11% to 19% of the U.S. adult population 3 . The challenge we face is that it is largely a silent epidemic, with few overt symptoms – NAFLD is typically diagnosed through sonography or abnormal liver enzyme readings and only when it has advanced. Based on current diet and exercise trends, researchers project that the incidence rate is likely to increase by 50% in the next 15 years 4 . Choline is the Key - To a Normal Metabolism and Healthy Liver
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Choline: Managing Liver FatThe good news is that fat accumulation in the liver can be controlled with the right choices. The most important thing a person can do is talk with his or her doctor about achieving a balanced, healthy diet and getting regular exercise. Adequate choline intake is a fundamental and irreplaceable part of good nutrition, as its functionality is unique.
Choline works behind the scenes to maintain normal liver function through the role it plays in fat metabolism. The liver produces very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) as a way to export fats out of the liver for storage or to muscles for immediate conversion into energy. VLDLs are composed of an inner core of lipids and an outer layer of phospholipids. As a precursor of the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC), free choline is a required raw material to make VLDL. Without adequate levels of free choline, transport slows and fats will begin to build up within the liver.
VitaCholine®
Balchem’s VitaCholine is the premier brand of choline, an essential nutrient for all human life stages. Choline is critical to the healthy structure and function of the human body and plays multiple roles:
•Building Block – it is an integral part of cell development, maintenance and genetic regulation
•Messenger – as acetylcholine, it speeds messages in the brain and to the muscles
•Metabolic Defender – it helps prevent fat accumulation in the liver by moving it out for conversion into energy
Adequate choline intake is fundamental to good health, but 90% of people do not get sufficient choline through diet alone. Prolonged choline deficiency can result in muscle damage and an accumulation of fat in the liver1, making it vital for people to get their daily requirements via dietary choices.
Choline: Focus on Liver Health
According to a 2015 fact sheet from the World Health Organization, the worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1980 and 2014. In 2014, about 39% of the world’s population aged 18 years and over were overweight and 13% were obese2. The negative impact of obesity on cardiovascular health is well-established, but far fewer are aware of the effect it has on the liver.
Various sources estimate that the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from 11% to 19% of the U.S. adult population3. The challenge we face is that it is largely a silent epidemic, with few overt symptoms – NAFLD is typically diagnosed through sonography or abnormal liver enzyme readings and only when it has advanced. Based on current diet and exercise trends, researchers project that the incidence rate is likely to increase by 50% in the next 15 years4.
Choline is the Key - To a Normal Metabolism and Healthy Liver
Choline: Balanced Metabolism
Choline plays a significant role in keeping both cells and bodily systems operating at their best. Another unique feature of choline is its trio of methyl groups which can be given to other molecules. Through methyl donation, choline is able to positively influence metabolic processes that fall out of balance.
One prime application of methyl donation is choline’s management of homocysteine, an oxidizer that accumulates in the body as part of normal cell metabolism. High plasma homocysteine seems to be associated with negative impact on both cardiovascular and cognitive function, though further research is needed to understand how. Choline’s donation of a methyl group turns homocysteine into the benign amino acid methionine, which is used to repair and build proteins.
VitaCholine®: For a Healthier YouThe VitaCholine product line consists of a range of high quality choline salts which can be easily added during manufacturing to help fortify foods and beverages, infant formula and dietary supplements. These are just a few of the benefits that VitaCholine can bring to your products:
• Sixstructure-functionclaimsintheU.S.;threeintheE.U.
• Provenqualityandsafety
• Broadregulatoryacceptanceworldwide
• Stablefromprocessingthroughfinishedproduct
• Flavorlessandhighlybioavailable
• Compatiblewithothernutrients
• SQFII,Koshercertified,andHalalcertified
Balchem Corporation52 Sunrise Park Road
New Hampton, NY 10958
845-326-5675Toll Free: 877-222-8811 [email protected]
1 Zeisel and da Costa, Nutrition Review, 2009 2 World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/3 Lazo,etal,AmericanJournalofEpidemiology,May20134 LaBrecque, et al, World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guidelines, June 2012
Choline supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This document is for general information only and should not be construed or relied upon as medical advice or opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. ©2015 Balchem Corporation. All trademarks are property of Balchem Corporation.
VitaCholine®: Essential Nutrition for a Healthy Liver
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